The latest travel news, vacation tips & advice, travel apps, and more

D.C.: Baby panda Tai Shan is leaving town

Since his birth on July 9, 2005, panda bear Tai Shan has become the tourism symbol of Washington, D.C. He appears on the city's subway fare cards and tourism posters. He's boosted attendance at the National Zoo, and drawn tens of millions of fans to the "panda cams" on the zoo's website.

But officials announced today that the four year old bear is heading to back to China.

I'll be wearing black and white in mourning.

The exact date of Tai Shan's departure has not been set yet. He needs to get his visas approved, I guess.

Recent Features

From Cape Cod to the Great Lakes, from Southern California to the Gulf of Mexico, America’s beaches stay open long after the summer crowds have gone home. It’s the same sun and surf—oh, except that you've got some elbow room and hotel rates have come back down to earth!